Today is ANZAC Day – ( … a national day of remembrance in
Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New
Zealanders and those from the neighbouring Pacific Islands "who served and died in all wars,
conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and
suffering of all those who have served" … ) – and so wanting to acknowledge
this important day in some manner here on the other side of the planet to
Australia, I made a visit to The Bells Peace Monument in outer suburban
Sofia.
First it was a short ride on the Metro, then a good walk on a beautiful almost cloud-free day through the New Sofia Business District to the Kambanite Park - with snow-capped Mount Vitosha in the background..
Here, in the center of the park is a complex consisting of a huge 37 metre high concrete monument comprising of 4 vertical pillars
oriented according to the four cardinal directions, and a spiral composition of
two hemispheres in which seven bells are placed - representing the seven continents. The motto of the monument is “Unity, Creativity, Beauty”, and it is engraved in Bulgarian and in
English on one of the pillars - and in a circle around this major
monument are placed a number of much smaller concrete structures on which bells
are hung representing different countries (100 bells were hung in 1979 ).
The Bells Monument was originally built as part of the
celebrations for the first ever International Year of the Child in 1979. Back
then the structure was officially called the ‘Banner of Peace’. The initiative kept going for about a decade and the four
assemblies that were held at the complex during this period played host to
several thousand children who came from nearly 140 countries to celebrate peace. The event ceased
in 1990 and the complex fell into a state of disrepair and some of the bells
were stolen. The site is now open again as a place of
interest and security measures have ensured no more bells are stolen and
the gardens that surround the structure are well manicured. And surrounded by a beautiful park-like forest, the site is very much a haven of peace.
... this flower reminded me of wattle
and made me feel rather homesick ...
( Wattle is the national flower of Australia )
( unfortunately the bell has lost its donger ... !!! )
... but I gave it a good hard gong anyway
with my 1947 Australian penny talisman ...
Needless to say, as I wandered this very special site on this very special day, I gonged these bells very loudly in the hope that our world leaders would hear this ringing for world peace ...
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